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Semin Thromb Hemost
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776006
Review Article

The Diagnostic Role of Lung Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Pulmonary Embolism

Andrea Boccatonda
1   Internal Medicine, Bentivoglio Hospital, AUSL Bologna, Bentivoglio (BO), Italy
,
Lorenzo Andreetto
2   Internal Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, Bologna, Italy
,
Susanna Vicari
1   Internal Medicine, Bentivoglio Hospital, AUSL Bologna, Bentivoglio (BO), Italy
,
Elena Campello
3   General Medicine and Thrombotic and Hemorrhagic Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
,
Paolo Simioni
3   General Medicine and Thrombotic and Hemorrhagic Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
,
Walter Ageno
4   Research Center on Thromboembolic Diseases and Antithrombotic Therapies, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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Abstract

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) relies essentially on a probabilistic approach that requires careful clinical assessments, targeted laboratory tests, and the use of appropriate imaging tools. Nowadays, the diagnostic gold standard is computed tomographic pulmonary angiography. Lung ultrasound (LUS) can play a role in the diagnosis of PE mainly by allowing the visualization of peripheral lung infarctions. Hypoechoic, pleural-based parenchymal consolidation is the most typical and common finding of pulmonary infarction. More than 85% of infarct lesions are wedge-shaped, extending to the pleural surface and are localized to where the patient complains of pleuritic chest pain. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be performed in addition to basic ultrasound examination to ascertain nonvascularization of the consolidation, thus confirming that the lesion is an infarct. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the latest evidence on the application of LUS to the diagnosis of PE, focusing purely on thoracic/lung signs.

Keywords

computed tomographic pulmonary angiography - diagnosis - imaging - pulmonary infarction - venous thromboembolism


Publication History

Article published online:
13 October 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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